Articles

Hydroponic System Plans

Here are some FREE plans for some simple hydroponic systems that you can build out of easy to find, inexpensive materials. Please feel free to use any or all of these plans to build your new hydroponic systems. If you have a plan for an easy system that you would like to share, send it to us and we will [ read more ]

Using CO2 Successfully

by Eric Biksa Carbon Dioxide (CO2) is a colorless, dorless gas that is found in small quantities in the air, and is essential for plant life, without it plants could not survive. Carbon dioxide is absorbed by the plants and during photosynthesis the CO2 is is split into it’s basic elements, carbon and oxygen. Small amounts of oxygen are used [ read more ]

Article 4-3 Orchids

Orchid Culture in Perlite by Wally Thomas and Barb Thomas For a long time perlite has been known as a beneficial soil conditioner and as a component of media mixes. Some 15-years-ago at the West of Scotland Research Station, a technique was developed using pure perlite in growing tomatoes (1). The technique used plastic sacs of perlite sitting in and [ read more ]

Article 4-3 Practice Prevention

Practice Prevention Control Pests and Bring in More Good Bugs By Sherri-Lee Mathers, Balsam Way Organics In my last article I wrote about using beneficial insects instead of chemical pesticides and explained exactly what beneficial insects are, i.e. parasitic or predators. In this article I would like to give some more background on why and how beneficial insects fit into [ read more ]

Article 4-3 Nutrient Balances

Dear Maximum Yield: Could you please inform me about the ideal nutrient balances (macro and micro) expressed in ppm for the following crops: a) sweet pepper d) tomato b) eggplant e) lettuce c) cucumber f) radish Consider that we are working in an open hydroponic system (we don’t reuse nutrient solutions) and we tailor make our nutrient solutions. Thank you [ read more ]

Article 4-3 Male VS. Female

Can you help me regarding this hormone? I was told it promotes growth when sprayed on plants. I am not interested in having my plants become hermaphrodites. Which is it? Growth or hermies or both? Thanks, Patricia Patricia, Both. If sprayed in higher concentrations, giberellic acid will promote maleness in female plants. Sometimes this can be desirable. You can produce [ read more ]

Article 4-3 Hydroponics Foliar Fertilization

Hydroponic Foliar Fertilization By Dr. Lynette Morgan The most commonly used method of hydroponic plant fertilization is through a nutrient solution applied to the root zone of the crop. While plant root systems are in the most part efficient at absorbing mineral nutrients, certain conditions can prevent optimal uptake rates of some of the elements plants require. When plants are [ read more ]

Article 4-3 Adding Calcium Peroxide

Hello Erik, I have one more technical question: can I add calcium peroxide to soil that is to be sterilized (heated in a microwave for 10 min) or will this activate it too much and it will lose its potency? I understand that ordinarily it should be effective in releasing oxygen slowly for about one month. Thanks, Steve Steve: If [ read more ]

Successful Cutting

 by Professor Hydro Taking cuttings is one of the most popular ways to propagate a plant. Also referred to as cloning, it offers the ability to get multiple plants that are genetically identical to the mother plant. Many people feel intimidated by the process, and are a bit leery to attempt it. If you are one of those people, relax, [ read more ]

Article 4-3 Home Sweet Home Grown

Home Sweet Home Grown By Cindy Rea In late autumn a few years ago I purchased a small, beautifully landscaped home in a lovely bedroom community north of Toronto. The new property came complete with a 20′ x 30′ patch of ground that had obviously been used by the previous owners to grow vegetables. As spring rolled around I decided [ read more ]